St. Louis Officers Reminded of Peril of Traffic Stops

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Two St. Louis-area police officers are recovering after accidents while making separate weekend traffic stops along Interstate 70.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that neither officer was seriously hurt. Police say the incidents highlight the routine danger of traffic stops.

Police say an Arnold man crashed his Buick into a Pine Lawn police car on westbound I-70 about 4 a.m. Saturday. Officer Brandon Lange was out of his car writing a ticket for another driver and suffered leg and hip injuries. The driver of the Buick faces several charges.

A Normandy police car was struck about 2 a.m. Sunday as officer Cletis Mathis was getting out during a traffic stop. Mathis suffered minor injuries. The driver fled and faces charges that include driving while intoxicated.